Story perspectives

Four Sentenced for Hate-Crime Attack on Drag Star Kevin Aviance

7/21/2026

Summary

Kevin Aviance Returns

Four attackers pleaded guilty in March 2007 and received six-to-15-year sentences for the June 10, 2006 hate-crime beating of drag performer Kevin Aviance.
Aviance appeared at a rally with his jaw wired shut, then partnered with the Human Rights Campaign, entered a 30-day rehab program in February 2007, and underwent hip-replacement surgery.
He is preparing performances for New York Pride 2026 after moving to New York in 1993.

Summary

Kevin Aviance Urges

He urges community members to always tell someone their whereabouts and to seek help when violence occurs.
He calls on allies to stand up, citing Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and ACT UP as inspiration for defending queer lives.
He notes that historic queer parties served as fundraisers, information hubs and mutual-aid networks, and that staying connected today involves keeping a rotating list of ten dance tracks and attending one Saturday night a month.

History

Historical Context

Matthew Shepard’s 1998 murder in Laramie sparked national outrage that coincided with a wave of LGBT milestones: that year saw the election of Glen Murray as Canada’s first openly gay mayor and Tammy Baldwin becoming the first openly lesbian member of Congress. The incident helped propel legal challenges such as Lawrence v. Texas, which repealed sodomy laws in 2003.

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Kevin Aviance Returns

Four attackers pleaded guilty in March 2007 and received six-to-15-year sentences for the June 10, 2006 hate-crime beating of drag performer Kevin Aviance.
Aviance appeared at a rally with his jaw wired shut, then partnered with the Human Rights Campaign, entered a 30-day rehab program in February 2007, and underwent hip-replacement surgery.
He is preparing performances for New York Pride 2026 after moving to New York in 1993.

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